Floor of the United States Senate in 2014
The United States Senate is a legislative chamber in the bicameral legislature of the United States of America, and together with the U.S. House of Representatives makes up the U.S. Congress. First convened in 1789, the composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each U.S. state is represented by two senators, regardless of population, who serve staggered six-year terms. The chamber of the United States Senate is located in the north wing of the United States Capitol, in Washington, D.C., the national capital. The House of Representatives convenes in the south wing of the same building. The Senate is composed of two members from each State, equaling 100 members. Each senator is elected to a 6 year term.
The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the House, including consenting to treaties as a precondition to their ratification and consenting to or confirming appointments of Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, other federal executive officials, military officers, regulatory officials, ambassadors, and other federal uniformed officers, as well as trial of federal officials impeached by the House. The Senate is both a more deliberative and more prestigious body than the House of Representatives, due to its longer terms, smaller size, and statewide constituencies, which historically led to a more collegial and less partisan atmosphere.
Senators in House of Cards[]
- Dean Austen (Democrat/OH/served at least 2016)
- Joseph Baker (Democrat/NV/served at least 2016)
- Hillary Clinton (Democrat/NY/served 2001-2009, took a cabinet position)
- Catherine Durant (Democrat/LA/2003-2013, took a cabinet position)
- Willard Erickson (Democrat/OR/Senate Minority Leader, served at least 2014-2015)
- Casey Giallo (Democrat/NJ/Senate Minority Whip, served at least 2014-2016)
- Curtis Haas (Republican/WY/served at least 2014)
- Charles Holburn (Democrat/unknown constituency/served at least 2013)
- Michael Kern (Democrat/CO/served at least 2013, took a cabinet position)
- Kerry Kuilima (Democrat/HI/served at least 2017)
- John McCain (Republican/AZ/served 1987-2018)
- Hector Mendoza (Republican/AZ/Senate Majority Leader, served at least 2014-2015)
- Henry Mitchell (Republican/TN/Senate Majority Leader, served at least 2015-2016)
- Susan Newman (Democrat/IN/served at least 2017)
- Scott Sheer (Democrat/KY/served at least 2016)
- Louise Talbert (Democrat/unknown constituency/served at least 2017)
Mentioned-only[]
Several names of Senators are heard during the quorum call in "Chapter 16." All of these individuals were currently serving in 2014.
- Mr. Abner
- Mr. Avendale
- Mr. Brown
- Mr. Burr
- Ms. Cantwell
- Mr. Cerini
- Mr. Chess
- Mr. Colson
- Ms. Cornwall
- Mr. Dammeral
- Mr. Darling
- Mr. Daswani
- Ms. Dauster
- Mr. Dobbins
- Mr. Donner
- Mr. Dwyer
- Mr. Engel
- Mr. Ferrison
- Mr. Gentry
- Mr. Pulaski
- Mr. Ullman
- Mr. Walsh
- Mr. Wicker
- Mr. Whitehouse
- Mr. Wyden
There are also a few names of Senators who appear on a schedule in Zoe Barnes's stack of paperwork in Season 1. All of these individuals were currently serving in 2013.
- Sen. Bunde
- Sen. Davis
- Sen. Dyson
- Sen. Hoffman
- Sen. Huggins
- Sen. McGuire
- Sen. Stedman
- Sen. G. Stevens
- Sen. Therriault
- Sen. Wagoner
- Sen. Gary Wilken
Credited Only[]
Both individuals in this category served in at least 2016.
- Mr. Timms
- Ms. Wallace
Trivia[]
- Much of Chapter 16 was filmed at the Maryland State Capitol. The floor of the Maryland House of Delegates underwent a few temporary renovations so it would appear more like the Chamber of the United States Senate.
- During the quorum call in Chapter 16, there are references to six real world Senators: Sherrod Brown (Democrat/OH), Richard Burr (Republican/NC), Maria Cantwell (Democrat/WA), Roger Wicker (Republican/MS), Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat/RI) and Ron Wyden (Democrat/OR); all of whom were serving in 2015.
- In a spoof for the 2013 White House Corespondent's Dinner, John McCain (R-AZ) is shown speaking on the phone with Frank Underwood, insinuating that he may be Hector Mendoza's counterpart from Arizona.